Welcome to Lead with AI, the only executive AI brief for busy leaders.
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​Every edition, I deliver the latest AI updates through real-world insights and discussions from our ​community​ of 150+ forward-thinking executives.

In this week's edition, I want to focus on:
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AI as a Thinking Partner

There have been so many updates to the AI models recently, that the question of which platform to choose is becoming increasingly complicated to answer.

For you, as a senior leader, I want you to think about it through a lens you may not have thought about yet.

Last Friday, we wrapped up the 3rd and final live session of Lead with AI Cohort 6.

While few business leaders enter this program expecting it, one concept is starting to stand out as transformative for them: AI's power as a thinking partner.

It's all this group could talk about. Rather than a 'tool' that can help you work faster, AI became a collaborative partner for these business leaders.

One that allows them to think more clearly, make better decisions, and explore creative solutions in ways previously unimaginable.

Shifting Perspectives: AI as a Coworker, Not a Tool

For many executives, the first breakthrough is realizing that AI isn't just software for automating repetitive tasks.

For many course participants, this starts with assigning "personalities" or roles to AI—for instance, using it as a communications strategist, a psychology consultant, or even a product design coach.

This shift, from basic prompting to CO-DO "SuperPrompting" (which you can generate with our ChatGPT Prompt Generator here) reframes how leaders engage with AI, encouraging more dynamic and meaningful collaboration by treating AI as a coworker, not a tool.

But the real unlock for many people I've trained over the past year is treating AI like a senior thinking partner.

By tapping into AI's vast 'brain,' it can act as an interactive advisor, like a senior colleague, mentor, or executive coach. The value of this is (unsurprisingly) immense.

Rather than simply asking AI for answers, leaders are learning to engage in a dialogue, guiding the AI through iterative problem-solving.

For example, by not asking for answers, but challenging AI to ask them better questions. After all, sometimes a good question delivers better results than a quick answer.

Ethan Mollick’s Take: Frontier Models and Reasoning Power

Ethan Mollick, a leading voice on practical AI adoption, echoes this sentiment in his latest guide on today’s top AI tools, which I also shared in our community.

He highlights that the most advanced models, like OpenAI’s GPT-4o, Anthropic’s Claude 3.5, and Google’s Gemini 2.0, are no longer just powerful—they’re thoughtful. (The same goes for the latest disrupter, Deepseek. More on that in tomorrow's Stay Ahead newsletter.)

Mollick describes the rise of reasoning models, which excel at tackling complex, multi-step problems by “thinking” before responding.

These models, such as OpenAI’s o1 series, can act like scholars or advisors, providing well-reasoned answers that feel eerily human. For executives, this capability is invaluable.

Whether solving intricate business challenges or running simulations, reasoning models elevate AI from a reactive assistant to a proactive thought partner.

He also praises AI’s Live Mode features, such as ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode, which integrates real-time voice and visual inputs. (For me, the ultimate game-changer.)

This enables seamless, natural interactions, creating the sense of engaging with a knowledgeable and intuitive collaborator. It's a feature that fundamentally change how much value many of the leaders I work with get out of AI.

Lightbulb Moments from Executives

In the cohort, many leaders experienced their own “lightbulb moments.”

One participant described how voice-based interactions with AI sparked a deeper sense of collaboration, making it feel like brainstorming with an insightful coworker.

Others shared how assigning specific roles to AI—like “customer success strategist” or “business development coach”—helped unlock fresh perspectives on familiar challenges.

Executives are also finding that AI helps them balance automation with intuition.

While AI excels at handling repetitive or data-driven tasks, leaders still bring the judgment and creativity required for higher-order decisions.

By offloading supporting processes to AI, they’re freeing up time to focus on the strategic questions only humans can answer, something that's crucial to underscore for successful AI implementations.

Experimentation Is Key

Both in the Lead with AI program and in Mollick’s guide, one takeaway is clear: you need to experiment.

AI’s potential isn’t fully realized until you actively engage with it—whether it’s testing different tools, exploring use cases, or customizing it for your workflows.

For example, tools like ChatGPT’s custom GPTs and Gemini’s Google Workspace integrations (I've been very impressed by some of the recent updates) allow for tailored solutions that align with specific business needs.

And while AI capabilities are evolving at breakneck speed, the secret isn’t waiting for the “perfect” system. It’s diving in now and discovering how AI can complement your thinking and decision-making. (See more AI change management best practices.)

What This Means for Leaders

As AI evolves, the leaders who embrace it as a thinking partner will gain a significant edge. The ability to work alongside AI—to brainstorm, analyze, and strategize—will define tomorrow’s most effective executives.

So, ask yourself: How could AI support your next big decision or creative project? If the Lead with AI cohort has shown us anything, it’s that the future of leadership isn’t about competing with AI. It’s about partnering with it.

Want to get started?

I'm happy to share a few practical tips – just reply to this email, and I'll help out.

Until next week,

– Daan